Are you a golfer, a visiting faculty in an academic institute, or at the airport ready to fly? Soon, your latest ride in any of these public spaces may come from the newly manufactured electric buggy made by Roots Industries.
Roots has launched EVs for in-campus use under its own brand name. Cashing in on the EV mood of the nation, Roots is making EV sub-systems too.
Mr. K. Saravanasundaram, Executive Director, Roots Industries, said: “We started our EV division in December last. Initially, we will be manufacturing them for educational institutions, hospitals, golf resorts and airports. We will be depending on our in-house R&D for developing both the EVs and sub-systems. Our partner company also has products developed for the EV segment, and we are planning to collaborate with them for not only some of our products but also for the OEMs.”
The EVs by Roots would be, at first, tailor-made for logistics purposes for short distances of 60-70 km range. He said: “We have already sold 5-6 units. Currently, we are establishing our production lines. By the end of 2018-19, we are targeting production of close to 400 vehicles and by 2020 the number may go up to 1,000. Revenue wise, by 2020 we are looking to touch Rs. 50 crores.”
Roots has the required expertise to develop EVs and their sub-systems capitalizing on their experience of more than four decades. Having earned a name in the industry as a quality equipment manufacturer, Roots has over these years diversified its business.
Mr. Saravanasundaram explained: “For the last five years we have been working and investing in R&D for entering the EV sector but the policies were not conducive. Whatever business we have begun till now – be it automotive, castings, industrial cleaning machines or now EV – the response from the customers has been tremendous.”
Last year, the company launched battery disconnect switch besides other electronics products, including DC-to-DC convertors, smart USB chargers, keeping their focus primarily on truck and off-road segments.
Mr. Saravanasundaram added: “We work with global and domestic OEMs and have seen time and again that the battery disconnect switches that are made locally here are not used by the global OEMs present in India. They import them. So we want to indigenize this product and support them here. We are also working on its next generation which is electronic disconnect switch.”
Talking about the USP of their DC-to-DC convertors, he shared: “It is light weight because where others use aluminium for heat dissipation we use specially developed plastics which offer higher efficiency and are also cost effective.”
Roots boasts of a strong pan-nation network of dealers and distributors and its legendary name in air horns is evergreen. Mr. P.C. Parameswaran, Chief Marketing Officer, Aftermarket, said: “Earlier, there was a gap between the organized and unorganized manufacturers. Post the reduction of GST on components from 28 per cent to 18 per cent, there was an overall advantage where the people preferred a branded product with meager cost increase.
But there are challenges for Roots in the form of easy availability of lithium-ion batteries for the EVs. Mr. Saravanasundaram shared: “India does not have these battery manufacturers, but we are sure that with the Government’s support, the required technology will be brought in to make the project viable in India to achieve the vision they have by 2030.”
These obstacles notwithstanding, Roots enjoys a high brand recall value and is sure to capitalize on it to ride the EV wave that is soon going to be a reality in India in a big way.